Flames' Goalie Kiprusoff Target of Fan's Laser

Flames' Goalie Kiprusoff Target of Fan's Laser

The Calgary Flames took a full 65 minutes plus a shoot-out to defeat the Vancouver Canucks Saturday night (winner scored by Jamie Lundmark) in a hotly contested division rivalry. Along the way, one Canuck fan sitting close to the ice at Vancouver's GM Place decided to shine a green laser at Flames goalie Mikka Kiprusoff throughout the game.

Flames coach Brent Sutter was livid that the culprit was never located and removed from the arena. The Flames staff brought it to the attention of both the on-ice officials and GM Place security earlier in the game after noticing. “It’s ridiculous. We could see it from the bench, see it shining on his mask throughout the whole night,” Sutter said.

While most Canuck fans on social media Facebook and Twitter were angered and embarrassed by the actions of this fan, it got me wondering if the Canucks organization intend to press charges against this individual. Laser pointers are known to cause temporary blindness and occasionally long term eye damage.

This is something the NHL and Commissioner Gary Bettman need to consider. What would the league’s position be if the outcome of a game were changed by the act of someone in the stands? And why didn't NHL control in Toronto use the CBC video feeds to zero in on and identify the fan with the laser pointer? He/she should have been located, handcuffed and removed from the game, then charged with aggravated assault. Thoughts or comments?

More on the green laser pointer

(update Monday Jan 11th) J.J. Guerrero over at the Canucks Hockey Blog reports that GM Place sources tell him the culprit with the green laser pointer was never apprehended despite an extensive search of the building throughout the game. Meanwhile Nashville head coach Barry Trotz, whos team plays the Canucks Monday night in GM Place, says if someone in the crowd attempts to shine a laser in the eye of Predators goalie Dan Ellis tonight, he'll pull his team off the ice. "I'll pull the team off," Trotz said after his team's morning skate. "They do that, then we'll stay off."

Jim Sparrow sells Calgary Real Estate with Royal LePage & specializes in South Calgary and luxury homes. Browse through our Living in Calgary blog, view current listings, and when you have questions, simply email, or page me directly at Royal LePage Solutions 403.252.5900.

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8 Responses to "Flames' Goalie Kiprusoff Target of Fan's Laser"

Richard Greaves wrote:
I agree with you Jim, I think the fan should be prosecuted. I would go one step further and ban them for life from any other sporting event in the Province of B.C. These people are not true fans and should be treated with the same contempt they show the Athletes. I would hate to see this happen at the upcoming Olympics.

Posted on Sunday, January 10th, 2010 at 10:30pm.

Uncle Albert wrote:
You have to remember, it's BC, NHL officials tried to dispatch GM Place staff to find the culprit but they were all on a coffee break for the entirety of the game.

Madison real estate wrote:
While being banned for life from sports events or tasered sounds extreme, I do think officials should have either halted the game until the individual was apprehended or at least consulted with goalie Mikka to find out whether the laser was bothering him enough to stop the game. What a pathetic show of poor sportsmanship that someone would choose to spend the game trying to annoy, much less harm, a hockey player or anyone for that matter involved in a professional sport. Reminds me of when Tanya Harding conspired to attack Nancy Kerrigan at the 1994 US Figure Skating Championships practice, causing Kerrigan to be injured. Many would argue that injury caused Kerrigan to win the bronze rather than the gold medal she was expected to take home. I think that the goalie, Mikka, should be allowed to choose the offender's fate -- if they ever catch the son-of-a...

Posted on Monday, January 11th, 2010 at 7:16pm.

Morristown NJ Real Estate wrote:
Interesting article Jim. I think strong action should be taken also. If they allow this to go lightly who knows what next. These pranks end up hurting people.

The Calgary Flames edged out the Vancouver Canucks in a shootout last week, 3-2, but the real story was Flames goaltender Mikka Kiprusoff making 19 saves while being nailed in the face with a laser for the better part of 60 minutes.
Flames coach Darryl Sutter was irate after the game:
“It’s ridiculous. We could see it from the bench, see it shining on his mask throughout the whole night,”
Since the game was played in Vancouver, more suspicion has surfaced â€“ how could security fail to find the fan who was hitting Kipper with the laser all night? Some are already speculating that GM place staff conveniently looked the other way, hoping for a home win for the Canucks.
Nashville Predators head coach Barry Trotz told the media before his team played the Canucks at home that he wouldn’t tolerate the same treatment.
“I’ll pull the team off,” Trotz said after his team’s morning skate. “They do that, then we’ll stay off (the ice)”
A laser assault on the Predators would be incredibly dangerous, considering the obnoxiously reflective qualities of their uniforms â€“ it would probably blind everyone in the arena.
H/T to Jim Sparrow}[...]

Posted on Friday, February 12th, 2010 at 6:25am.

NHL Goalie Blinded by Laser from a Fan…Conspiracy? wrote:
[...]The Calgary Flames edged out the Vancouver Canucks in a shootout last week, 3-2, but the real story was Flames goaltender Mikka Kiprusoff making 19 saves while being nailed in the face with a laser for the better part of 60 minutes.
Flames coach Darryl Sutter was irate after the game:
â€œItâ€™s ridiculous. We could see it from the bench, see it shining on his mask throughout the whole night,â€
Since the game was played in Vancouver, more suspicion has surfaced â€“ how could security fail to find the fan who was hitting Kipper with the laser all night? Some are already speculating that GM place staff conveniently looked the other way, hoping for a home win for the Canucks.
Nashville Predators head coach Barry Trotz told the media before his team played the Canucks at home that he wouldnâ€™t tolerate the same treatment.
â€œIâ€™ll pull the team off,â€ Trotz said after his teamâ€™s morning skate. â€œThey do that, then weâ€™ll stay off (the ice)â€
A laser assault on the Predators would be incredibly dangerous, considering the obnoxiously reflective qualities of their uniforms â€“ it would probably blind everyone in the arena.
H/T to Jim Sparrow}[...]

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